Members of the public are invited to attend a community update on the process to remove a 420-foot-wide, 60-foot-tall dam within Gorge Metro Park. While planning for dam removal has been underway for decades, the Free the Falls project will occur over the course of four phases. Work is now focused on Phase 2, which began in 2025, where dredged sediment is transported via temporary pipeline to be safely stored at a sediment placement site that has been prepared at the Chuckery Area of Cascade Valley Metro Park. The dam is one of the largest unresolved impediments to restoring the water quality of the Cuyahoga River and its removal will improve river ecology, create recreational opportunities and drive economic benefits within the local community.
On Tuesday, April 28 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at the Akron-Summit County Public Library – Main Library (60 S. High St., Akron), partners will present a progress report. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m., with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. Before the meeting, enjoy refreshments and browse Free the Falls t-shirts for sale (credit cards only). Full meeting details are available at bit.ly/FTFppr.
The progress report follows U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent announcement in March 2026 of resuming its dredging operations on the Cuyahoga River in Gorge Metro Park in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Dredging was paused during the winter due to below-freezing temperatures.
Now in its tenth year, the dam removal project is managed by a group of partners that includes the City of Akron, City of Cuyahoga Falls, FirstEnergy, County of Summit, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Summit County Council, Summit Metro Parks, The University of Akron, Ohio EPA, Ohio Lake Erie Commission and U.S. EPA.
Learn more about the effort to remove the Gorge Dam and sign up for email updates at bitl.ly/freethefalls.